Indian and South Asian Skin Care

Develop a daily routine to keep cleanse, prevent damage, and nourish your skin to keep it looking young

1. Cleanse your skin every morning and before going to bed. Use Luke warm water.

2. Do not use soap on your face. Soap should only be applied below neck. If you must use soap, choose a facial soap. In United States, every store carries facial soaps. These are very mild. In India, you can use Reetha (Soap Nut) to make liquid soap.

Standard soap causes can wash out too much of natural moisturizer (oil), making the skin dry. It may damage the outer layer (acid mantle) that keeps bacteria from penetrating.

3. Gently massage your face with finger tips in circular motion to promote blood circulation. Make it a routine, as a part of washing face.

4. After washing your face, do not rub your face with towel. Vigorous use of towel will get rid of natural moisturizer (oils) and enlarge pores and capillary under the skin. Gently dab your face with dry towel.

5. Do not scrub/exfoliate too hard or too often.

6. Always remove makeup before retiring for the night. Use a makeup remover.

7. Avoid ingredients that stimulate melanin production.

Propylene glycol, essential plant oils, PABA, Alpha-Hydroxy Acid (AHA) in high concentrations.

8. Read ingredients of your skin care product carefully.

- Avoid Mineral oil, Petrolatum, and Lanolin. In the long run, they dehydrate skin.

- Alcohols such as Isopropyl Alcohol, SD 40 Alcohol 40, and Ethyl Alcohol dissolve natural moisturizers, destroy pH balance, accelerate wrinkling.

- Avoid products that use fragrances and FD&C dyes. They may cause allergic reaction.

- Avoid waxes (beeswax, carnauba wax, candela wax, paraffin wax). Over time, they will enlarge the pores
- Borax is rapidly absorbed by the skin and may be harmful.

Dry Skin

Dry skin damages the upper layer of skin. Dry skin is caused by lack of humidity, hormonal changes, too much of exfoliation. Use humectants types of moisturizers. Moisturizers should be free of oils, wax and lipids. Drink a lot of water. Apply a dab of honey.

Oily Skin

Oily skin is a result of excessive production of sebum. It closes up your pours. Use a cleanser with salicylic acid to slow down production rate of sebum.

1. Use Multani Mitti (Clay) mask.

2. Use Reetha Facial soap.

3. Apply talcum powder.

Acne

1. Use Pepto-Bismol as a mask for 25 minutes

2. Grind Aspirin tablets. Use Aspirin Mask

3. Use ingredients that are high in sulfur (Mustard seed powder, garlic and onions). These ingredients will reduce the bacteria level but may cause skin irritation.

4. Add Neem oil as antibacterial, it may cause irritation. A better choice would be to prepare masks from fresh Neem leaves. Unfortunately, fresh Neem is not available in United States.

Sunscreen

Sunscreens work by absorbing UV-A and UV-B rays from the sun. Indian skin has a natural SPF of 13. A sunscreen with SPF 15 is sufficient. Always apply sunscreen to the area that will be exposed to sun 20 minutes before going out in sun.